U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted over 90,000 Xanax pills on Interstate 5 this week, stopping a large-scale narcotics smuggling attempt.
At approximately 4:50 p.m. Wednesday, agents assigned to the San Clemente Station stopped the driver of a black pickup truck traveling north near Camp Pendleton.
During the vehicle stop, agents interviewed the driver and requested assistance from a K-9 unit, which alerted agents to the possible presence of concealed narcotics.
Agents then discovered 11 boxes containing individual packages labeled as Farmapram, an over-the-counter equivalent of Xanax sold in Mexico.
The packages contained a total of 90,090 pills, with an estimated street value of over $600,000.
Upon further investigation at the San Clemente Station, the driver, narcotics and vehicle were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The driver now faces state charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
“This seizure sends a clear message: we will not tolerate dangerous drugs on our streets,” said Jeffrey Stalnaker, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Sector.
Xanax, a schedule IV narcotic used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, can have potentially life-threatening side effects when misused for recreational purposes.
According to the San Diego County Drug Overdose Surveillance Report released last year, benzodiazepines – the classification for brands of depressants such as Xanax, Valium and Klonopin – from 2021 to 2023 trailed fentanyl, amphetamines and other opioids in regards to overdose deaths.
In the first three quarters of 2023, 72% of overdose deaths were opioid-related, with from 150 to 200 deaths a quarter. Benzodiazepines accounted for about 25 or fewer deaths a quarter.
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